If you want a fast and modern V8 experience on the relative cheap, it's hard to beat the Ford Mustang GT. Both of its direct competitors (Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack, Chevrolet Camaro SS) have been retired to that great big drag-strip in the sky– leaving the Mustang GT as the most affordable survivor of the peak-V8 era. Below, we're covering Coyote-era pricing, milestone model years, and how the Mustang stacks up against various popular alternatives to help shoppers make the best purchase decision possible for their dollars.After defining years of performance benchmarks, this segment quietly collapsed into a one-car ordeal, with Ford carrying the torch.Ford didn't stop evolving the Mustang GT once the competition left the scene. The Coyote V8 is now in its fifteenth model year powering the Mustang GT, and it's higher-revving, smarter, and more sophisticated than ever. In the new and second-hand markets today, a modern Mustang GT represents one of the last affordable entry points to cutting-edge V8 power in a performance car. Here's How Much The Cheapest V8 Mustangs Cost New FordA quick recap of Mustang GT pricing over the past decade, alongside comparable Camaro SS and Challenger models helps add context to its value position in the marketplace. The Mustang GT consistently holds the lowest entry price, helping reinforce its position as the most accessible V8 performance car on the scene.The Camaro SS typically occupied the middle ground of the trio when it came to pricing. The Challenger Scat Pack commanded a price premium for its superior displacement and output, as well as a steady push up-market for the model as it aged. All models increased in price sharply in the early 2020s as the market's offerings tightened up and the sun began to set on the segment.Take a look at pricing today, and it's quickly apparent to see that the Mustang has no real competition — not in the traditional sense, at least. If it's a reasonably affordable V8 sports car with a muscle car genealogy that you're after, then this is it. You Can Get One From $9,000 FordYou can pick up your own second-hand Mustang GT with the legendary 5-liter Coyote V8 for less than $9,000 today in 2026, provided you have no qualms with an odometer reading that reaches for the skies. At this price range, 200,000 miles plus is pretty common. If you can increase your spend to $10,000 or $12,000, earlier Coyote-powered units begin to populate the search results with odometer readings in the 120,000 to 150,000-mile range.If you're after something a little fresher, perhaps with half that mileage or less, you're looking at pricing from the high teens. Add in a set of new tires and a fresh oil change to make it $20,000, usually with odometer readings hovering around 60,000 miles.If you're looking to take advantage of the 2018 model year update with the 460-horsepower engine and 10-speed automatic, you'll find units in the high-teens to low-twenties as well, but typically with higher odometer readings. Expect to pay about $20,000 for a unit with around 110,000 miles on its odometer with the updated-for-2018 powertrain team on board.Ford Bump your budget to $25,000, and you'll find a generous selection of units with 40,000 miles or less, though 2018 model year units will tend to have 15,000 or 20,000 additional miles on their odometers. A further push towards the $30,000 mark should see you handily into a 2018 or newer unit with a sub-20,000-mile odometer reading, and your choice of a six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic. Milestone Model Years To Pick The Best Mustang Possible FordLet's get you up to speed on the modern five-point-oh and where it came from. Way back in 1995, the last 5-liter Mustang of the era was built. This engine was replaced by a modernized modular 4.6-liter V8 that arrived from the 1996 model year, carrying on as the high-performance engine for mainstream Mustangs through to the end of the 2010 model year. For 2011, the replacement arrived in the form of an all-new V8 engine dubbed 'Coyote', which once again brought 5 liters of displacement and a '5.0' badge to the fenders. The marketing horsepower behind the new-age five-liter V8 meant the engine would instantly register with enthusiast shoppers. V8-Powered Mustang GT Alternatives Of The Coyote V8 Era (2011-Present) Chevrolet Camaro SS (LT1/LS3): 2010–2024 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack (6.4L): 2015–2023 Dodge Challenger R/T (5.7L): 2009–2023 Lexus RC F (5.0L V8): 2015–Present Chevrolet SS Sedan (6.2L LS3): 2014–2017 Pontiac G8 GT/GXP: 2008–2009 BMW M3 (E92 - 4.0L V8): 2008–2013 Cadillac CTS-V (Gen 2/3): 2009–2019 That initial Coyote engine made 411 horsepower in the Mustang GT and had a 7,000-RPM redline. Key features included an aluminum cylinder block, aluminum high-flow, four-valve heads with a quad-cam setup, a trick variable cam timing system with particularly aggressive cam lift rates, tubular exhaust headers, and a toughened bottom end.Ford By 2013, the Boss 302 variant saw the Coyote V8 able to spin to 7,400 RPM, making 444 horsepower in the process. That year, the Mustang GT got a bump to 420 horsepower, followed by an additional bump in 2015 to 435 horsepower. For the 2018 model year, a revamped powertrain team arrived. The Coyote V8 was now running port and direct fuel injection, and a higher compression ratio, good for 460 horsepower.Elsewhere in 2018, a new 10-speed automatic joined the equipment list alongside the long-running six-speed manual, and helped the Mustang GT get from 0-60 MPH in less than four seconds for the first time ever. In 2024, an additional update focused on optimizing the engine around a new throttle body configuration, and horsepower climbed again to 500 for the Mustang's Dark Horse variation. Keep These Used Mustang Tips In Mind For Best Results FordIf a second-hand Mustang GT will be your first sports car buying experience, be sure to keep a few important factors in mind for the best possible ownership experience. First, do yourself a favor and get a battery trickle charger. This small device is plugged into a household outlet and connected to your Mustang GT's battery to keep it charged and healthy. Using it whenever your Mustang will be parked for more than a few days can fend off a heap of battery-related trouble, especially on convertible models.Ford Second, assume the tires, brakes, and clutch on the model you're considering need to be replaced until you've got proof otherwise. A professional technician can quickly assess these parts if you've got any concerns. For your safety and pleasure, be sure the Mustang GT you're considering is on a set of high-performance rubber that's appropriate for the application. Aging, worn, or otherwise low-performing tires on a high-performing car like this are a recipe for trouble. Underestimating the importance of healthy tires (and respecting their operating temperature) is a great way to surprise high-five a guardrail with your back bumper if you get too saucy on the throttle.Ford Third, if you're buying a newer, second-hand unit that's still covered by some portion of remaining warranty, take steps to ensure the unit you're considering has never been modified with non-factory parts or software, which could nuke remaining warranty coverage or cause damage and wear not covered by warranty. Most shoppers should stick to stock for the best results.Sources: Ford, Stellantis, Chevrolet, Lexus.